US asks its citizens to defer all non-essential travel to Pak

Washington: Ahead of an anti-government march in Pakistan`s capital on August 14 by opposition parties, the US has asked its citizens to defer their all non-essential travel to this South Asian country.

In a travel warning, the Department of State warned US citizens to "defer all non-essential travel" to Pakistan. The presence of several foreign and indigenous terrorist groups poses a danger to US citizens throughout Pakistan, it said. Across the country, terrorist attacks frequently occur against civilian, government, and foreign targets. Attacks have included armed assaults on heavily guarded sites, including military installations and airports, it added. The Pakistan government, it said, maintains heightened security measures, particularly in the major cities. Threat reporting indicates terrorist groups continue to seek opportunities to attack locations where US citizens and Westerners are known to congregate or visit. Terrorists and criminal groups regularly resort to kidnapping for ransom, the travel warning said. "Protests against the United States are not uncommon and have the potential to turn violent. US citizens in Pakistan are strongly advised to avoid all protests and large gatherings," the State Department said.